Torpedo-guard for vessels.



P. T. JACKSON, In. TORPEDO sumo FOR vsssus.

APPLLCATION FILED MAY H. 1917.

Patented. Nov" 27, 19121.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

ATTORNEY P. T. JACKSON, JR. TORPEDO GUARD FOR VESSELS.

APPLICATION FILED mAYu. 1917.

1 Wm H Wm Nu MW 2 m a P Fiu A TTOR/VEY PATRICK TRACY JACKSON, 3B, OF C AIIBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTfi.

TORPEDO-GUARD FOR VESSELS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2?,191W.

Application filed May 11, 1917. Serial No. 167,932.

- ings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to torpedo guards for vessels, and

has reference more particularly, to that type of torpedo guard which is suspended beyond the hull of the vessel to either intercept and stop a torpedo before reaching the hull or causing the torpedo to be exploded before contact with the vessel.

As well understood by those skilled in the art, it has been common heretofore to suspend a netting at some distance beyond the hull of a vessel in order to either stop a torpedo in its passage toward the vessel or cause it to explode. This protection against torpedo attack has dictated the use, of an auxiliary head to be used on the torpedo, the object of which is to explode upon contact with the torpedo guard or netting and by such auxiliary explosion, tear or rupture the guard or netting sufliciently for the passage of the torpedo itself so that the latter might perform its function of destruction.

With the above facts in view, an important feature of the present invention consists in suspending at some distance beyond the hull of the vessel, a guard or net adapted to arrest the passage of said torpedo, or it may be, cause its ultimate explosion, and to suspend beyond or ata greater distance from the hull of the vessel than the guard or netting, one or more curtains ofl'ering a relatively great resistance to the passage of water, the construction being such that when the auxiliary head of the torpedo contacts with the said curtain or curtains, the latter will be held from yielding inwardly to a large extent by the mass of water between the curtain or curtains and the torpedo guard or net to thereby cause the auxiliary head of the torpedo to be exploded, so that when the torpedo'passes through such curtain or curtains,- 1t will meet the guard or not which will eifectually prevent contact of the torpedo with the hull of the vessel.

In carrying the invention into practical 'efi'ect, the torpedo guard or net may be preferably formed of suitable wire or other material capable of arresting the passage of a torpedo therethrough; and the curtain or curtains may be formed of some closemeshed material, such, for instance, as a heavy woven fabric through which the water will not readily pass, so that upon contact of the auxiliary head of the torpedo with such curtain, the latter will be held from ready deflecting movement by the mass of water between it and the hull of the vessel, or the torpedo guard or net, and cause the explosion of the auxiliary torpedo head.

In order that the curtain or curtains may be readily manipulated and positioned for use, the present invention contemplates that such curtain or curtains be mounted upon rollers supported by suitable means beyond the torpedo guard or net and that devices be provided for rotating the rollers to either wind up or let fall the curtain or curtains, .as desired.

Another important feature of the invention consists in providing the lower edge of the curtain or curtains with the stiffening member so that in a tide-way or during the movement of the vessel through the water with the curtain or curtains in operative position, the stifiener member will hold the curtain or curtains in the proper position.

The above and other features of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following description and accompanying drawings of one good, practical form of the invention, it being understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to the details shown and described, but may be varied within the true scope of the invention as pointed out by the claims.

- In the drawings Figure 1 is a cross section of a vessel having the present invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the vessel, showing more particularly the manner of supporting the torpedo guard and curtains at a distance from the hull of the vessel; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail in perspective, showing the torpedo guard or net, the means for suspending it beyond the hull of the vessel, and the curtain or curtains, and one good, practical form of means for manipuslating the curtain or curtains.

In the drawing: the hull of the vessel 1 has connected thereto suitable means for supporting the torpedo net or guard, and the curtain or curtains at a suitable distance from the hull of the vessel, the curtain or curtains being farther from the vessels hull than the torpedo guard or net. In the present instance of the invention, a boom 2 is connected to the hull of the vessel, preferably as indicatedin Fig. 3, wherein the boom 2 is shown as pivoted at 3 to a socket member 4 secured to the hull of the vessel at a suitable distance above the water-line 5. A suitable support 6, such as a rope or cable, or the like, may be attached to the boom 2 preferably near its outer end, for supporting the outer end of the boom.

Mounted upon the boom, or suspended therefrom, is the torpedo guard or net 7. This may be of usual character suitable for arresting the passage of a torpedo toward the hull of the vessel. Inthe present instance the torpedo guard or net 7 is formed of large-meshed wire, and supported from the boom 2 by a collar 8 and suspending link 9.

The present invention contemplates the provision of means for effecting the explosion of the auxiliary head of the torpedo before it reaches the torpedo guard or net 7, so that the said torpedo guard or net 7 is not ruptured or rendered ineffective to perform its function by explosion of the torpedo auxiliary head. To this end, the present invention contemplates the suspension of one or more curtains substantially resistent to the passage of water beyond the torpedo guard or net, so that should the auxiliary head of a torpedo moving toward the hull of the vessel contact with such curtain, the mass of Water between the curtain and the hull of the vessel will act to resist the lateral deflection of said curtain sufficiently to cause the explosion of the torpedo auxiliary head. This will, or may, effect rupture of the curtain, but when the torpedo then reaches the torpedo guard or net, the auxiliary head having been destroyed, it will be effectively arrested.

In the present instance of the invention, the boom 2 is shown as supporting three curtains beyond the torpedo guard or net 7, but as well understood by those skilled in the art, the number of curtains employed may be varied according to the dictates of circumstances. Mounted upon the boom 2 is shown a series of collars 10 which may be adjustably secured to the boom in any desired position by means of the clamps 11. The collars 10 are each provided with depending bracket portions 12, the laterallyextending arms 13 of which have mounted therein the swiveled bearings 14 for supporting the ends of the rollers 15 from which the curtains 16 may be suspended. By swiveling the bearings 14 in the manner described, the curtains 16 may be made in sections extending along the sides of the vessel and be caused to conform approximately, at least, to the contour of the vessel.

In order that the curtains 16 may be readily manipulated, suitable means isprovided for operating the rollers 15 to which the curtains are secured. In the present instance of the invention, such means consists of a winch 17 mounted on a suitable bracket or support 18 carried upon the deck of the vessel. This winch 17 may have a suitable operating member 19 and be provided with a series of pulleys 20 above which and about the pulleys 21, on the end portions of the rollers 15, may pass the operating connections 22, which in the present instance of the invention comprise a series of rope belts. With respect to the details of features described, it will be evident that the invention .may be varied, but the construction described for supporting and operating the curtains for exploding theauxiliary head of the torpedo is found to be efficient and practical.

In order that the curtains 16 may not be lifted from their operating position in a tide-way or durin the movement of the vessel, the lower e ge portion of each curtain is provided with a stiffening member 23. This stiffening member may be. of any suitable character, but preferably consists of a substantial and heavy wire or metal rod secured to the lower edge portion of each curtain.

' From the construction described it will be apparent that when a torpedo such as 24, Fig. 1, having an auxiliary head 25 which usually efl'ects rupture of the. torpedo guard or net sufficient to permit the passage of the torpedo itself therethrough, meets the upper curtain 16, the auxiliary head will tend to push the outer curtain 16 inwardly toward the vessels hull, but the resistance of the curtain 16 to the passage of water therethrough, causes the mass of water between said curtain and the hull of the vessel to resist ready lateral deflection of the curtain 1'6 and cause sufficient pressure upon the auxiliary torpedo head to effect its explosion. Should the first curtain not be sufiicient to effect this purpose, the second curtain comes into play as the torpedo moves forward, and if necessary, the third curtain,

with the result eventually, that the auxiliary head of the torpedo is exploded and the torpedo passes on into engagement with the torpedo guard or net 7 where it is effectually stopped.

The curtains 16 may be formed of closelywoven material, such as heavy duck or the like, and 'along the lower edge of each of the curtains and preferably extending the full length thereof, may be secured the stiffening member 23.

It will be understood, of course, that a memes bination of a guard or net adapted to arrest the passage of a torpedo, means for suspending said guard or net at a distance from the hull of a vessel, and a curtain ofiering relatively great resistance to the passage of water and suspended beyond the guard or net that the mass of water between the guard or net and curtain may resist lateral deflection of the curtain.

2. In a torpedo guard for vessels, the combination of a metallic guard or net adapted to arrest the passage of a torpedo, means for suspending the metallic guard or net at a distance from the hull of a vessel, and a curtain substantially resistent to the passage of water and suspended beyond the metallic guard or net.

3. In a torpedo guard for vessels, the combination of a guard or net adapted to arrest the passage of a torpedo, means for supporting the guard or net at a distance from the hull of a vessel, a plurality of curtains substantially resistent to the passage of water, and means for supporting said curtains at difierent distances beyond the guard or net that the included mass of water may resist lateral deflection of said curtains.

1. A torpedo protector for vessels, comprising a net or guard adapted to resist the passage of a torpedo, means for suspending the net or guard at a distance from the hull of a vessel, a curtain ofi'ering relatively great resistance to the passage of water, a

roller for suspending the curtain beyond the net or guard that the mass of water between the curtain and net or guard may resist deflection of the curtain, and means for operating the roller.

'5. A torpedo protector for vessels, comprising, in combination, a net or guard adapted to resist the passage of a torpedo, means for supporting the net or guard at a distance beyond the hull of a vessel, a curtain substantially resistent to the passage of water, means for suspending the curtain beyond the guard or net that the mass of water between may resist deflection of the curtain, and means for raising and lowering the curtain.

6. A torpedo protector for vessels, comprising, in combination, a net or guard adapted to resist the passage or" a torpedo, means for supporting the net or guard at a distance beyond the hull of a vessel, a curtain substantially resistent to the passage of water and provided with an edge stiffening member, means for suspending the curtain beyond the guard or net that the mass of water between may resist deflection of the curtain, and means for raising and lowering the curtain.

7. A torpedo protector for vessels, comprising, in combination, a net or guard adapted to resist the passage of torpedo, means for suspending the net or guard at a distance from the hull of a vessel, a series of curtains substantially resistent to the passage of water, and means for supporting said series of curtains beyond the net or guard.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

PATRICK TRACY JACKSON, JR. 

